Mahadevappa sets the ball rolling for Mysuru Dasara

District Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa launched the redesigned logo for Mysuru Dasara 2017, during a meeting of the Dasara committee held at the deputy commissioner’s office here on Monday.

The minister said, this year too, the famed Mysuru Dasara will be celebrated in a simple yet memorable way as the state is reeling under severe drought. Dasara-2017 will be inaugurated at 9 am on September 21 and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will decide on the dignitary for doing the honours of inaugurating the festivities. The Dasara is scheduled to be held from September 21 to 30.

He told the officials to base the theme for Dasara, this year, on democracy, Constitution and women empowerment. The minister said that the state government will release Rs 21 crore, which includes Rs 5.45 crore pending from last year, for the smooth conduct of the Nada Habba.

‘Make Mysuru pothole-free’

Public Works Minister Dr Mahadevappa told the meeting that the state government has sanctioned Rs 21 crore to take up repair works of the city roads and a further Rs 117 crore has been allocated to develop 17 roads connecting Mysuru from different places.

He told the officials to make Mysuru pothole-free city 10 days before the start of Dasara.

He said that Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore will be sanctioned to hold Dasara celebrations in Srirangapatna and Chamarajanagar respectively.

Jamboo Savari rehearsal

The Dasara committee members suggested the officials concerned to conduct the Jumboo Savari rehearsal on the Mysuru Palace premises prior to the Vijayadashami procession on September 30. The members said that people can be allowed to watch the rehearsal for JumbooSavari.

Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner G Jagadeesha said, in order to maintain cleanliness of the city during Dasara, civic workers will be deputed to various spots across the city from September 1 to October 10 . The pourakarmikas will work in shifts, he said.

Deputy Commissioner D Randeep said, special initiatives such as ‘Palace on Wheels’, ‘3D projection’, ‘helicopter ride’ and adventure sports will be organised like in previous editions. Also, cultural programmes at Mysuru Palace premises, Yuva Dasara, food mela, women's Dasara, wrestling will be organised.

No-vehicle zone

This time, the city police and the district administration have planned to identify a few places in the city as no-vehicle zone during Dasara.

The DC said, the places around Mysuru Palace would be declared vehicle-free zone, and only VIP vehicles will be allowed, he said.

MLAs G T Devegowda, M K Somashekar and Vasu, Police Commissioner Dr A S Rao, Superintendent of Police Ravi D Chennannavar, DCPs H T Shekar and Vikram Amte and  a battalion of district-level officials were present.